A 5-year-old boy from New Britain is safely back home with his family thanks to a firefighter who stepped in to help after the child wandered from his house and walked close to a busy street.
The child left his home as his grandmother slept. Witnesses saw the boy wandering partially clothed near the intersection of South Main and Whiting Streets in New Britain around 10 a.m. Tuesday. He was clutching a board game.
"Grandmother reported that both she and the child had laid down to take a nap, child had woke up and somehow had been able to unlock a door and get out of the house," New Britain Police Capt. Thomas Steck said.
He walked about 100 yards and his "Sorry" board game spilled in the road. A city firefighter spotted in the street with no shoes on and realized something was wrong. He called 911 and brought him into the Dunkin' Donuts at the intersection. The first thing the boy said when he came in was that he wanted a doughnut, so the staff obliged and also gave him a drink. The fireman played the "Sorry" with the boy until police arrived. The boy said the game was his favorite.
"One of the firefighters called in that there appeared to be a four or five year old male child unattended wandering close to the street," Steck said.
Police quickly identified the boy and figured out where he lived.
There is no history of any problems at the home, police said.
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Police said they are not filing charges against the boy's grandmother.
